Insurance & Fees
Insurance
All clinicians accept Blue Cross Blue Shield (e.g., Federal, Wellmark, out of state). Some providers accept Aetna, Cigna, Health Partners, Medicare and Midlands Choice. Like most therapists in North Liberty and Cedar Rapids, we cannot provide virtual therapy to clients living in other states (due to licensing laws). With the exception of Julie Peterson, LISW, who is dual licensed in Iowa and Illinois.
Let Us Contact Your Insurance
One of the qualities that distinguishes us from other therapy clinics in North Liberty and Coralville is our service. We’ll find out your insurance coverage and let you know how much your sessions will cost before you schedule your first session.
For most insurances in Iowa (and many national insurances), we can find out your coverage. Fill out the request a session form and make sure to respond to the question about your insurance ID. You can also talk to us on the phone if you prefer. We may need your date of birth but we will contact you by phone for that. If you have an insurance we do not take, it is possible (but unlikely) your insurance will pay for our services.
In some cases, we reach automated systems that will keep us on hold for hours. In that case, we’ll let you know and ask you to follow the steps below. Most insurance companies will respond faster to customers’ calls vs. providers. Call the phone number on your insurance card and ask the questions below:
What to Ask Your Insurance Company
- Is psychotherapy covered? (you may need to ask, "Are mental health services covered?")
- Do I need pre-approval? (often, this is not the case with Blue Cross)
- What is my co-pay for an outpatient office visit? (all our services are classified as office visits)
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover? (Blue Cross usually doesn't set a limit)
What is a Deductible?
A deductible is the amount you have to pay for your medical care before your insurance starts helping with the costs. It’s basically the upfront part you’re responsible for each year. Once you’ve paid enough to meet your deductible, your insurance will begin covering a larger share of your bills. Usually, every medical service you pay out of pocket, goes toward your deductible. So physical exams, surgeries, psychotherapy sessions, physical therapy sessions, all go toward your deductible. Be aware that most insurance deductibles reset on January 1st. So you have to then pay for services until you reach the deductible amount.
Example: If your deductible is $1,000 and you have an ER visit that costs $800, you have to pay the $800 out of pocket and then pay the next $200 of any other medical service as well. If you come to Evergreen Therapy Center, you would have to pay for your sessions until you meet that $200 limit. Now you have paid $1000 out of pocket, your insurance will start to cover some or all of your sessions.
What is a Copay?
A copay is a small, fixed fee you pay each time you get certain types of care, like seeing your doctor or picking up a prescription. It doesn’t change based on what the service actually costs—it’s just a set amount. Copays make it easier to know what you’ll owe for common visits. Depending on the plan, you might have copays right away, or only after you’ve met your deductible.
Example: If your plan has a $25 copay for doctors visits, you will probably have a $25 copay for therapy. That means you only pay $25 each session.
Coinsurance
Coinsurance is the percentage of a medical bill that you’re responsible for. Instead of a set fee, like a copay, coinsurance costs will vary depending on how much the medical service costs.
Example: If your coinsurance is 20% and you receive a $100 service, you would pay 20% ($20). If you received a $200 service, the coinsurance is $40. So the coinsurance will usually be different depending on what kind of insurance you have.